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Ark. Code Ann. § 16-90-1412

Sealing certain convictions for victims of human trafficking — Definition

Acts 2015, No. 1152, § 12.

(1) As used in this section, “victim of human trafficking” means a person who has been subjected to trafficking of persons, § 5-18-103, or any former law of this state, law of another state, or federal law that is substantially similar.

(2) A person convicted of prostitution, § 5-70-102, may file a uniform petition to seal the conviction under this section if it was obtained as a result of the person’s having been a victim of human trafficking.

(3) A uniform petition under this section may be filed at any time and may be filed for a conviction imposed at any time.

(4) The court shall grant the uniform petition under this section if it finds by a preponderance of the evidence that: The petitioner was convicted of prostitution, § 5-70-102; and

(5) The conviction was obtained as a result of the petitioner's having been a victim of human trafficking.

(6) If the uniform petition under this section is granted, the court shall: Issue a uniform order to seal the conviction; and

(7) With respect to the conviction for prostitution, § 5-70-102, redact the petitioner's name from all records and files related to the petitioner's: Arrest;

(8) Citation;

(9) Criminal investigation;

(10) Criminal charge;

(11) Adjudication of guilt;

(12) Criminal proceedings; and

(13) Probation for the offense.

(14) Official documentation by a federal, state, or local government agency verifying that at the time of the conviction for prostitution, § 5-70-102, the petitioner was a victim of human trafficking creates a presumption under this section that the person's prostitution conviction was obtained as a result of having been a victim of human trafficking.

(15) Documentation under this subsection is not required to grant a petition under this section.

(16) Documentation under this subsection may include without limitation: Certified records of federal or state court proceedings that demonstrate that the defendant was a victim of a trafficker charged with a trafficking offense under state law or the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000, 22 U.S.C. § 7101 et seq., as it existed on January 1, 2013; or

(17) Certified records of “approval notices” or “law enforcement certifications” generated from federal immigration proceedings available to victims of human trafficking.

Current official text: Arkansas General Assembly. Digitized from the UniCourt Code Improvement Commission public-domain capture. Reproduced from public-domain Arkansas statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.